Where have I been the past few months?
School, Young Life, preparing for graduation in May, trying to figure out slowly step down from Soddy Daisy Young Life...
Why?
BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SHARPTOP COVE FOR A YEAR!
This place...my future home.

I have been called to step out of this season of life into the next. Starting September 1, I will be a Year Long Intern at STC. I am SO stoked and my heart is filled with so much joy every time I think about it. My friend Maddie and I (we interned together at STC last summer) visited camp last weekend and as soon as I walked onto the property I felt the Lord say to me "It's time, my love..."
Time.
Time to step away from everything that is comfortable. Time to give up something that has been a huge part of my life for over 3 years now. Time to walk away and trust that the Lord's hand will still (and forever be) over Soddy Daisy High School...
Time to start preparing for what's next. I am still trying to figure out what "goodbye" will look like. I've decided that leaving Chattanooga will be one of the hardest things for me to do, but possibly one of the best things that could happen. How do you say goodbye to the people that you would die for? How do you say goodbye to places that you think you're not finished with yet?
Trust.
Trust that when Jesus says it's time to go, you go. He's chosen a new set of challenges that awaits me. He's chosen a new setting for me to grow closer to Him. He's chosen a new place to show me how madly in love with me He is. And I could not be more excited.
God always prepares us in advance for everything (Ephesians 2:10). So, how can I prepare for SharpTop with my time here in Chattanooga..the 6 months that I have left?

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." -Colossians 3:12-14

This semester has been a semester of transformation for me.
I feel as though the Lord told me last semester that I was about to walk into a hard semester...one that will challenge me in ways that I will want to walk away from. Jesus walked with me through hard conversations that I did not want to have; He walked with me and taught me that it's okay to be vulnerable with the people that love me (this one was really hard for me); He taught me when to be silent and when to speak; He taught me that He is for me ALL THE TIME; He is teaching me how to let go of control...

I can honestly say that I can see a change in myself from just last semester. I used to say "I'm not who I used to be! I'm so different than who I was in high school." 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" This doesn't just mean one big change. Yes, once you've accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, your life will be forever changed. But is that it? There's no more daily change to be done in a person's life?
I hope that I never stop changing. Because I feel as though once you stop changing or looking for change, you stop yielding to His plans for you...you stop relying on Christ. When you stay in a comfortable situation, it is so easy to take the reigns and take control of everything.
yield...
In the midst of those hard conversations that God called me to, I found myself wanting to run..putting those pride walls up. I started believing the lie that if the outcome of the situation wasn't perfect that it wasn't worth it.
"I'm not looking for perfection; I'm looking for willingness..."
Yes. Yes. Yes. Life isn't about becoming perfect (because let's just face it...that's not ever going to happen here on Earth); it's about experiencing God's perfect Love for us.

So, now that I have rambled on for 14.34 minutes, let me tell you where God showed up on Friday, March 1, 2013...

These people....
these new faces are the new Soddy Daisy Young Life leaders. PRAISE GOD.
10 of them.
10...10?!? YEP. Diez. DIME. TEN. 10.
that's more than I prayed for. God can do immeasurably more. Why? Because He is Faithful, and He is for us.
These people, I am already so proud of and already have so much love for them. I wept on Friday night. And I don't cry in front of people. My tough walls never allowed me. And the Lord said through my good friend Tess that it was okay to be vulnerable. Jesus wept. I wept. Man, I love transformation.
Those Soddy Daisy folks aren't going to know what hit them. To our new leaders Dakota, Houston, Kalie, and Moe...here's my word of encouragement for you (if any of you ever end up reading this):

I am so proud of you. I am so blessed and so honored that God chose to write Soddy Daisy into your stories. I have so much more peace leaving at the end of the semester knowing that y'all be there to continue loving on the kids that don't know Jesus (yet ;) ) When Jesus tells you to pray, you pray. When He tells you to listen, you listen. He tells you to go, you go. Why? Because He is with you every step of the way.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:19-20
Transformation is a beautiful thing...if you let it be.
With a heart full of love,
T

What's up with these once a month updates? 
Oh well, maybe that will change in 2013...

2013...
I can't believe how close we are to a new year. New beginnings. New memories. A time to look back and remember the good and try to forget the bad. A time to set new goals, and set new ones when those don't work out. New. That's what 2013 is. And that's exciting...

Today at Midtown Fellowship in Nashville, the pastor talked about giving thanks, something I definitely need to get better at doing. Giving thanks is stepping out into faith, because it's accepting that you are content with the situation that the Lord has surrounded you with. 

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is GOOD. His love endures forever."- Psalm 136:1

I need to write this down somewhere where i can constantly see. To be reminded that He is Good and that His Love endures FOREVER. He is faithful. And there's so much to be thankful for because of that.
So we give thanks for what we have. And it brings Him Glory.
But what about those things that we don't have? Thankfulness is being thankful for those things that you have, and also for those things that you don't have or that the Lord hasn't given you yet. Being thankful brings contentment, and I could always use more contentment in my life. 

I was at Starbucks in Brentwood, TN, sitting and reading a few days ago when I asked this man sitting next to me to watch my stuff while I went to the restroom. He asked me the same thing a few minutes later. When he sat back down, he proceeded to ask me if I was a college student and then talked about how I should visit his church sometime. It turns out he was talking about Kairos (worship for college students in Nashville; I went a few years ago and I LOVED it). Apparently, the hall that they meet in within Brentwood Baptist (Hudson Hall) was named after him. Kind of an important guy, I would say. He asked me questions about my life back in Chattanooga, and then started packing up his stuff to head home. As he was leaving, he said to me, "It was great to meet you, Tiffany. You're on the right track."
on the right track...
for some reason those words brought me comfort. In that moment, I didn't care what jobs I should be applying for once I graduate, or what city I would be located in next, or where I would be next summer, or if I should be applying for Grad School. I felt the Lord say to me through that man, "You don't need to know what's next, Dear. You're on the right track..."
So in that moment, I gave thanks for NOT knowing. God knows me, and if I knew what was supposed to be next in life for me, I might miss what is in front of me now..so anxious and ready to move on to the next thing.
So we are about to embark on a new year. Let's give thanks for 2012 and live a thankful life in 2013. With all of the mess that has been going on in the news, I have a lot to be thankful for. Jesus is Good. Don't miss it.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."- Philippians 4:4-7
Love,
T

Just last week was Thanksgiving, and there's so much to be thankful for. Thankful for a great community; thankful for my family; thankful for never have gone hungry; thankful for laughter; thankful for time to sit...
I want to try and experience Thanksgiving year round. We all talk about what we are thankful for around Thanksgiving time and some of us even put on our Facebook status' what we are thankful for.
What if we did this...all the time?
A little food for thought.

Next week are finals and it's so strange to say my final first semester of college is almost over. These past 4 1/2 years have been great and I'm so thankful that I got one extra year to try and figure things out more. That's where I'm at now. What's next? Do I apply for an internship? SharpTop Year Long? Move back home to Nashville and find work? Stay in Chattanooga?
It's all in God's timing when I will find out what's next. I'm praying for patience in the midst of it.

We had our Stomp the Barn club joined with Red Bank a couple of weeks ago. It was incredible. It was so much fun to lead the square dance songs with Tess while watching our high school friends have the best night of the week. Please continue to pray for Soddy Daisy High School Young Life...that we wouldn't grow weary as leaders but lean & trust on the One who created all things. Next semester is my last semester as a Soddy Daisy High School leader (weird to read and say out loud). But I trust that the Lord is good, and that SDYL will continue to grow after Jordan and I leave. Next semester is going to be incredible! Chattanooga Young Life goes to winter camp next weekend! ACTs are that Saturday, which knocks out a lot of my girls. So I may just end up visiting SharpTop for the day on Saturday (who doesn't love to hang around at SharpTop?)  

3 years and 3 days ago, the Lord used me to save my mom. Little did I know that the Lord would use that situation to save myself. Mom and I got to celebrate our 3 year anniversary for our kidney transplant a couple of days ago (November 24th). For a lot of you that don't know this about me (many don't), this is how I came to know the Lord. While I was stubborn, selfish, and living in darkness...the Lord came and rescued me and physically rescued my mom as well. My mom had a severe kidney disease and it's weird to say that if we didn't have the surgery, she wouldn't be alive today. Lots to be thankful for. Here we both are, with 2 new lives, and I couldn't be more thankful. I think the Lord constructed the date of the surgery to be around Thanksgiving, so that while I was remembering all that I was thankful for, I could also remember when He saved me..remember how He saved her...remember how he slowly but beautifully healed her...remember how He's still taking care of her...remember that I'm more healthy now than when I had 2 kidneys..remember how He died on the cross for me and my mom to have life and have it to the fullest, and that He would do it again to prove how much He loves us...

Lots to be thankful for, and this woman is one of them...

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures FOREVER." - Psalm 136:1

Love,
T

It's been a month since I've updated...
A WHOLE MONTH.
That's what college and YoungLife/Student Staff will do to you!
So, here we go. I can't promise that this won't be too long, but I will try!

Where has my life been the past month, you ask?
Everywhere. So many emotions can be used to describe my life the past few weeks. Happy. Joyful. Sad. Frustrated. Overwhelmed. Content. And discontent...
We will start out with Soddy Daisy.
We got another boy, so that's not only one boy but TWO.
Praise Jesus! His name is Dan Martin, and he is awesome.
They have a bulletin board in the YoungLife office with all of the team names and pictures. Here is ours now (updated!):

Sorry the quality is not that great (it was taken off of someone's computer). Don't you worry, we will go on a team photo shoot soon. TEAM SODDY!
Next update...
kind of similar because she is on my YL team and on Student Staff with me...
JORDAN BATEY IS ENGAGED

I am so excited for this girl! She deserves it! We had an engagement party for her last Wednesday with some of her closer friends, and it was such a sweet and fun time. She will be married either late May or early June. We go to summer camp the first week of June. I threw the idea out that she could get married at Windy Gap that week we are at camp. She wasn't a big fan of the idea...
2 pretty big things are coming up this week/next week..
Our YL Banquet is next Monday! It will be at Track 29 and the theme is "Come on Along!" It's Broadway Themed and each school is a different Broadway show.
Soddy is WICKED, so I get to be this gal for the night..

SO pumped. I hope we get a lot of people out to come and support Chattanooga YoungLife!
The other big thing that is going on this week...
I'm leaving THIS Thursday morning for Southwind YoungLife Camp to do Program for the weekend!
It's really happening...
It still hasn't hit me yet. I don't think it will until I'm backstage waiting to go out..and then I hear that music play...and then it's in that moment that the Lord will whisper to me We got this... 
So I'm excited more than nervous. Because I know that the Lord will do immeasurably more than I could ever imagine. All I want to do is glorify Him through my skits and my conversations with the campers...BRING IT ON!

Went on a sunrise hike this morning with two of my friends from Soddy Daisy High School. It was a really cloudy morning (the whole day has been cloudy), and so we couldn't really see the sun rise. The hike was great, the conversation was great, but I was praying that God would let us leave that place with a story...
There was a dog at the front of the trail that looked like it was hurt. It was just laying there and attempted to try and get up and walk a few times. It growled at us, so we just sympathized with it from a distance and moved on. On our way back, there the dog was laying in the same place, shaking. One of the girls (who wants to be a VET when she gets older) got down next to the dog and started to pet it, and then realized that there was blood all around the rocks that the dog had been trying to walk on. All 3 of us wanted to rescue it, but we knew there was physically nothing we could do. So we called the police and they came and took the dog away to the police station. I get a phone call a few hours later from the owners just thanking my friends and I for finding their dog and calling the police. They loved that dog..it was apparent in the way they were talking about it. The dog had run away the night before because of some loud fireworks. So, I'm thankful that we chose this morning to go on a sun rise hike...
This story kind of reminded me the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-31).
That dog (and us) run away from the hard or scary things in life or run because we think there is somewhere else that is better and more safe for us than with our own owner. That dog with the fireworks. Us with God. How we live our lives because of the things that have happened in our own lives..It's easier to run, right?
But the owner didn't stop looking for this dog that he loved so much. I can guarantee you that. God doesn't stop chasing us when we run. Why? Because He is a RELENTLESS God and won't stop until you are His again..and when that dog was returned this his owner, you better believe his owners were celebrating the return of their lost dog! And you better believe that God does that too with us. When the son from this passage who had run away finally decides to come back to his father, his father was OVERJOYED that he had returned. Verse 20 says "But while he was a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his song, threw his arms around him and kissed him." 
This Relentless God..won't stop pursuing you until you are His and only His again. He doesn't care where you run..He won't love you any less. He evens sends people and circumstances to help bring you back home to Him, just like we got to send this hurt dog back home to his owner to heal him.
What a day. God is good.
Pray for me and continued strength. This week is going to be a long one!
Love,
T

We did it. We had our annual Ice Cream Olympics this past Tuesday. And it was AWESOME. Chattanooga Christian School brought a few of their folks as well. Chocolate syrup in our hair. Whipped cream in our ears and eyes. Flour all over our clothes. And to top it off, the best ice cream war I've ever witnessed. All of our friends came out for this great event because our leaders have been so persistent in showing up in the school and getting them pumped for this.God is GOOD. I'm so proud of my teammates. Seriously, they are ALL over Soddy Daisy throughout the week. And to add a praise, WE GOT A BOY PLACED ON OUR TEAM. YES! I will say it again in a bigger font and in bold...
WE HAVE A BOY LEADER AT SODDY DAISY.
Praise the Lord! Jesus is GOOD! And His timing is perfect! He is everything we have been praying for and we are all so excited to have him as a part of our family! Welcome to the team Logan Russell!

I finally moved into my house (townhouse). It feels so good to finally have a room of my own! I am so blessed to be living with my roommates. We eat dinner together at our dinning room table, we sit and talk in our living room for hours, we all eat cookies that one of the roommies made, we all sit in someone's room and talk about life, we talk about all the ways that our house can be more open for people to come whenever they want...
we are living life together, the way Christ intended it to be. A month after school started...who would have known that that's when i would be finally moving into my place? Not me, but the Lord did. And He told me to wait, because He had some pretty special things planned along the way that He didn't want me to miss...

One last update, I was asked a few weeks ago to do program for a Wyldlife weekend camp at Southwind the first weekend of November. A guy named Makana, who is on Staff in Oklahoma, asked me, and my first initial thought was "I wouldn't know what I'm doing...I don't think I would be good enough..." But I knew those were lies, and my heart was excited about this opportunity. So I said YES, even though I was terrified because I have never done any sort of program before. I still don't know what I'm doing, but that's what exciting about it. I'm jumping into this opportunity with my eyes closed and hands wide open, knowing that the Lord will catch me and take me for an adventure along the way...

The Lord has proved me to over and over, especially in these past few weeks, that He is GOOD, and that He is Faithful. It's been funny to see how the evil one has been trying to put me down this past week, all the while these GREAT things has been happening. Satan can't handle the Lord's Goodness! 

The word wait has been a reoccurring word to me these past few weeks. Wait...on a lot of things. Things that I'm not ready for, things that aren't prepared for me yet, things that aren't mine yet...
If I was writing my own story, I would have already had a place a month ago, I would have gotten my Student Staff money all in one check from one support letter, money would never be a problem, we would have 6 boys on my YoungLife team already...
But thank goodness there is a greater Author of Life...
and He said to me, "I didn't have you move into your place sooner because I wanted you to experience what it looks like to depend on your community, because they LOVE you, and because you needed to be reminded of that. I wanted you to experience life with the Vanderwoude's and see what love in a marriage really looks like. I didn't have all of your money come in on one check from a support letter because I wanted you to use your story to invite different people into your journey. You are better with your words than you know, and you just needed a little push, my love. I want you to be desperately dependent on me, even when you don't know where your next meal will come from, because I will ALWAYS provide. I placed this boy on your team on My timing, because I wanted you to be always on the look out for my faithfulness. I've been preparing him for your team long before you started praying for him! I don't want you to ever doubt what I'm doing. Just trust, Beloved..."


"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12 
This verse has been so comforting to me the past week and every time I read it, I hear "Wait and Watch for Me..."
Wait.
And Watch for what He will do next.
He loves to prove His Love to His people, but we need to be seeking Him so we don't miss it.
The Lord is GOOD.
Think about it.
Love, 
T

The Lord has been proving to me over and over that He is faithful. I am His Beloved, with whom He is well pleased with...
He has called me to be on student staff for this school year...
He has called me to be "houseless" and rely on my community...
He has called me to kick down some doors and ask for financial support for student staff...
and I have never felt so loved.
A check here for $500. Another one for $500. People praying for me. $100 check here. A phone call with a couple of hundred dollar pledge. A check for $1,000....
People, I am WELL over the $3,000 mark. And I couldn't have done it without you!
I remember getting that phone call from my Area Director saying "You have one month to get that money in, otherwise we can't afford to put you on student staff"...
I look back on how worried I was. I didn't want to ask for help. But I can honestly say now, I kind of enjoy fundraising.
WHAT?!
I won't say that again (but I really did enjoy it).
I have enjoyed staying here at the Vanderwoude's. The love that Mari and Dale have for each other has been so encouraging. Him reading scripture to her in the morning, her making him a homemade cake for his birthday, their love letters from when they were dating, their date nights, laughter from the two of them from the other room...
So thankful that the Lord has been expanding my definition of family.  

Moving into my apartment THIS THURSDAY. I can't wait to move in and open my house up to everyone like my community has opened up their homes to me. Seriously, any of you in Chattanooga (or if you're up for driving) want to come over, please don't hesitate to come. We would love it. Seriously.
This past week has been great. This past weekend has been great traveling to new places to visit great people. Excited for tomorrow, and the adventures to come...

"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom...
...The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. -Psalm 145:3;13

The Lord is faithful.
Think about it,
Love,
T

Today, Gary Yerbey introduced me to another possible donor. Eugene is his name. He listened to my story. He laughed with me. I said he would be praying for me and for a boy to be placed on my YoungLife team. God is really broadening my definition of a community...

Last week, I had lunch with one of my old YoungLife girls (she's a freshman at UTC...no need for names, you know who you are!) While we were eating, she proceeds to tell me that she has been praying for me and that her parents have been praying for me as well. She then tells me that she is so proud of me. So proud of me...I don't even hear that much from my family, so those words still resonates within me. She then slides an envelope towards me and says, "It's not much, but my family wanted to support you because we are so proud of you." I looked at her and said, "If I open this here, I will cry, so I'm going to wait." So we proceeded with lunch. When I got to my car after lunch, there inside there was a letter from her, her mother, her father, and a check for $500. Not much?!? Tears, and more tears for this beautiful girl and her supportive family...SO thankful. 

One of my friends a few weeks ago was listening to my update about fundraising and she stopped me and said, "Tiffany, I get one more check from my summer job this week for $400. I feel like I'm supposed to give it to you for Student Staff. Will you let me help you?" I stared at her for a second and realized the way she worded her question has been something that I didn't really like...help. I thought she's doing this because she loves you, Tiffany, not because she feels like she HAS to give you any money. And I quickly saw Jesus' hand in that situation; that sometimes, you have to let Jesus serve you first so that you can go out and serve others...
So I looked at my dear friend for a few more seconds and said "YES!" and gave her a big, big hug and proceeded to say "Really...REALLY?! reallly! ahh! Yes yes YES!"

This past weekend we had our annual leader retreat for Chattanooga YoungLife leaders. It was in Cookeville at one of our leader's farm. It was incredible. So beautiful and not at all what I pictured for a barn (I'll post a picture below and more pictures later). David Haskins, our Area Director, was speaking on Saturday night about the story where Jesus washes the disciples' feet. He said something that stuck with me for the rest of the weekend... 
You have to let Him serve you before you can go out and serve others...
He is the Maker of this Universe...Creator of all things...All Mighty and All Knowing...placed each star in the sky and draws a new sunset and sunrise every morning...
He wants to serve ME?!
The Lord has been so graciously using these people around me to serve me, to remind me of His Love, to gain and regain my trust for Him when I get afraid and start running away...
so if I don't accept people's help, I am ultimately closing my hands to God's help. What good will that do for me? 
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."
                                                                                                                                          -John 13: 14
I'm still in the process of learning what it means to let the Lord serve me, and to serve him by serving others well. I still kind of wrestle with the thought of Jesus serving me...but I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open, so I can receive everything He has for me along the way...

I will never forget my friends at that leader retreat washing my feet, and getting the opportunity to wash my friend's feet. Tears, joy, prayer, affirmation and laughter came along with it. 
You have to let me wash your feet before you can go out into this dirty world, Tiffany...
The Lord is good. Always good.
There is a song that I have listen to on repeat for days (literally). It's called "Climb" by Will Reagan and the United Pursuit. So good. I suggest you go listen to it and meditate on the words (of what few words there are).
 
Update on $....
I have to my name for Student Staff about $1,600. WHAT?!
TIFFANY, YOU WENT FROM $250 to $1,600 IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS?!
YEP. The Lord is GOOD. Seriously. And that $1,600 is not including the money that people have donated via the website. 

Sorry this is so long. Before I started writing this, I said in my head that this wasn't going to be as long as the others because I know my mind likes to wander when I'm reading long things, but then this ended up being just as long as the other blog entries. God is continually showing Himself to me, so there is always lots to talk about! Maybe I will just update more often :)
Think about it,
Lots of love,
T

Home. When you think of this word, a picture of a house usually comes to mind, right? (maybe not this actual picture). God has rocked the meaning of this word for me these past few weeks...
Let me explain...
I ate dinner at the Murray's house (Babs Murray is on staff here on Chattanooga YL) a few weeks ago. It was such an incredible feeling to be sitting around a dinner table with this family...the conversations, the laughter, the delicious food AND dessert...
I was chosen to be there that night; to be a part of that great conversation that I may have not have encountered if I was at my "home"...
I was chosen and I felt at HOME....
I spent the night at my friend Emily's house last week. We made/ate dinner together (well...she made it, I cut some bread) and the conversation was great. We even watched the movie "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" on VHS. She made me feel so loved by taking care of me that night..making sure I had enough blankets, giving me a towel so I could shower the next morning, giving me a few good laughs before bed...I saw Jesus in that. 
I was chosen and I felt at HOME...
My friend Olivia and Tess have been nice enough to open up their house to me...anytime I wanted it. Olivia said to me, "Anytime you need your own space, time alone to yourself, or just need to take a nap or anything and I'm not home, please come over and do that", and then proceeded to hand me a copy of a key to their house that she had made for me. 
I was chosen and I felt at HOME...
I got the chance to head back down to SharpTop Cove for Workcrew last week. TN Staff Regional Conference was last Wednesday through Friday and I had been asked to come be a helping hand. Some of the Year Long Interns were still there, so instead of sleeping in a cabin by myself, they graciously opened up their home (my old home) to me. There was a moment when most of us were in the kitchen where I realized something about the word home...I talked in my last entry about how God has revealed to me that you don't need walls or a roof to call some place a home...but He reminded me of it there, which I feel like He does so often, so that we never forget where He has shown up. I think the few days I was there would have looked so different if those year longs weren't there. Those girls...they know me. We lived life together for 3 months. And I was so encouraged by them while I was at SharpTop Cove again. So I'll say this again...home has nothing to do with a roof or a comfy bed or Pinterest crafts all over your walls..it's about the people, and ultimately, it's about love...
I was chosen and I felt at HOME...
This past weekend (and even for a few more days this week), I was located at Mari Vanderwoude's house (she is our office admin and she is incredible). She was out of town and graciously opened up her home to myself and my friend/future roommate Mary Moore. My friend Mary and I walked in, put our stuff down, and sat down on the couch, and looked at each other...we were at home. We had an amazing weekend...playing piano, watching Friends, laughing, talking about life, talking about Jesus, crawling into our creeky bunk beds, making eggs together for lunch, driving to Knoxville together for a wedding and back..and I loved what Mari had told Mary before we got to her house...
"Please eat anything you want. Make yourself at home! And if you don't eat any of the food, I'll know..."
Jesus was taking care of us. He always had been, and He always will...and how did he do it these past few weeks? By choosing this community to take care of us and to show us His Love in a new way.
 I remember those moments before the summer ended where I was terrified to ask people for help...I didn't want to be a burden to anyone...I didn't want people to "take care of me"...I just wanted to do this alone. But we weren't created to do this life alone. God created Eve for Adam so he wouldn't have to be alone (Genesis 2:18;22), Jesus had 12 disciples and then eventually sent them out two by two (Mark 6:7), God chose Aaron to go alongside Moses on his adventure to free the Israelites (Exodus 4:14-16)...there are so many more scriptural examples...
But the one thing you notice about those communities...He is ALWAYS there, because He loves them. He has chosen each and every person I've encountered these past few weeks to shelter me...to clothe me...to feed me...to talk to me...to laugh with me...to just sit with me...so that He could remind me of His Love...
I was chosen and I felt at HOME...

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance to his pleasure and will- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has FREELY given us in the one he loves." -Ephesians 1:4-6


An update on $ for Student Staff...I have over $600 in with just people sending in money (better than $250!). This is excluding what people have donated via website (I will find out the total in the next few days). God is good. Always. I was chosen. You were chosen. Don't forget that. 
Think about it.
With love, 
T

So, I'm excited and thankful that I have this blog now. It's going to be a place where I put where I've seen Jesus and just about my journey through this year, so I hope that you stay tuned. It just might get interesting...
So here's an update on my life (trust me, it all ties in with where I've seen Jesus). 
I don't have a house right now in Chattanooga. Well, I will. The apartment that I am living at won't let us (myself and two others) move in until September 20th. We started  school on August 20th.
That's a month of being "houseless", Tiffany.
I know. I say "houseless" because I've felt more at home in the past week than I have in a really long time. My community has been so great to me and I'm so thankful for them. Sometimes all it takes is to ask for help...
I'm really bad at asking for help. I've realized this when God put me in 2 different positions to ask for help. One with housing, and the other with Student Staff. I hate asking for money and I hate burdening people with things..especially myself. But the Lord has shown me how to depend on my community, and that even though asking for help can be hard, people really love helping other people in need. It's like we were made to serve....
So back to the word "houseless"...
We had a student staff dinner the other night with our donors, Gary and Darlene, their son, our Area Director, his wife and two of his kids, and myself and the other 4 other Student Staffers. It was an incredible night. Really, really incredible. We all sat around and laughed and ate and shared stories of our summers. In the middle of dinner, I realized something: You don't need walls or a roof to have a home. I was at home, even though I didn't have a house. I felt like these people and these conversations were home to me.
There was a verse the other day that stuck with me and really made sense for my season right now. 
"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"- Romans 8:32
He loves us. He wanted you to know how much He loved you so bad that He sent His Son to die on a cross...
Seriously, He gave up His Son to woo you, and pursue you, and to win you back....
So why wouldn't he provide places for me to sleep? Why wouldn't he provide food for me to eat? Why wouldn't he provide laughter and tears along the way? Why wouldn't he put incredible people and a community in my life to walk this journey with me?
There was 2 days last week where I didn't pay for a single meal. Jesus. I have a place to stay tonight. Jesus. I've had about 7 people offer me their houses to stay at. Jesus. A donor today said he was going to donate $500 for my Student Staff. Jesus. 
I helped out with Calvary Kids at Calvary Chapel this morning. I worked with the 5 year old kids and it was incredible. We were watching a video about God and a picture of hands popped up on the screen to symbolize God's Hands. A little girl next to me whispers to me "His Hands are WAY bigger than that" and I said to her, "You have no idea..."
God is Good, and He is Gracious. My word of this week: PROVIDER
Think about it.
Thanks for reading folks...stay tuned.
With love, 
T